Pipe wrench



R. F. BOOP.

PIPE WRENCH.- APPLICATION men MAR. 26. 1920.

Patented Mar. 28

T FFlCE.

RUFUS F. 300?, OF MILLMONT, PENNSYLVANIA.

IIPE WRENCH.

Application filed March 26, 1920. Serial No. 368,975.

[ all who m, it may concern Be it known that I. Rorus F. lioor. a citizen of the United States. residing at Millmont, in the county of Union and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pipe Wrenches. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pipe wrenches and has tor its primary purpose and object to provide a wrench of this character with improved gripping jaws, capable of substantially embracing the pipe or other obects therebetween so as to give more turnlug-power to the wrench and facilitate its use.

A further and additional object is to provide' a wrench ot the character above described, embodying improved structural changes, whereby the pressure of the jaws is so evenly distributed as to reduce the possibility of distorting or injuring the objects engaged by the jaws to a minimum.

A further object is to provide a wrench having a movable jaw adjustably supported through a pivoted support carried by the wrench handle; the support being movable about its pivot for causing separation of the wrench jaws to some extent. and for the purpose of adapting the wrench to some particular sized object without the necessity of adjusting the movable jaw.

\Vith the above and other objects in view the invention resides in the details of construction and combination of parts as will hereinafter bemore t'ultv described. rel'cr-.

ence being had tothe accompanying drawings. in which- Figure l is a top plan view proved wrench.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross section taken on line 23--$l ot Figure Figure .lis a detail view illustrating the manner in which the jaws o t' the device cmbrace and grip a pipe.

Figure 5 is a detailed view disclosing the manner in which the shank of the movable jaw bears on the head of the handle.

In the drawings. the name al 1 indicates a wrench handle provided at its l'orwa rd end witlran enlargement. constituting a head. '2 which in the present instance is illustrated as being substantial oval shaped with itscurvct'l. forward edge provided with transverse v extending and outwardly directed teeth :3.

ol' the im- The head 2 provides a support for a pair of curved jaws -t and 5 respectively which are fastened rigidly thereto by means of bolts or other suitable Fastening elements (3. Each jaw t and 5 it will be ot'iserved. lit's close up against the head 2 on opposite sides and have their front edges curved in alignment with the curved tooth bearing portion It ol the head. the upper portion T however. of each head being of narrower width than its lower portion and tapering to a point or nose 8 which projects forwardly of and above the head 2 as illustrated to advantage in Figure .2 of the drawing. While the rear edge of each stationary jaw may be symmetrically curved as indicated at t). the torward or working edge is provided with reversely curved tooth-bearing portions 10 and 11. respectively the teeth of the lower portion bein as previously suggested. in align ment wit 1 the teeth of the enlarged head "3.

The adjustable member consists in a curved jaw portion 12 having its inner face provided with teeth 13 pointing oppositely to the teeth formed on the rigid jaws and enlarged heads respectively ol' the handle. Extending rearwardly from and approximately at right angles to the jaw 12 is an elongated shank it which may be square in cross section as indicated in Figure 3 of the drawing and which is provided preferably throughout its length. with threads 1a. The shank t-t is adapted to be received in the space between the upper portion T of each rigid jaw t and 5 so as to ritlc over the up per end of the head during the adjustment of the movable jaw as indicated in dotted lines in Figure .2. the shank being lurthcr supported within a frame or carriage it; pivotally supported upon the handle 1. rearwardly of the curved edges t of the rigid jaws l and y This frame consists of the side plates 17 having curved forward edges 18 and opposed openings or windows I!) through which projects the knurled periphery of an adjusting nut 20: the latter embracing the threadcd shank 1- of the movable jaw and in threaded engagement therewith. Each plate, moreover. has an extension 21, depending slightly below the handle 1 and joined to a connecting or bridge piece 22. The top connecting wall of the two plates is suitably raised. as at 223 to acconnnodate the upper end of the adjusting nut '20; the latter being so secured. it will be noted, between the plates that it is permitted to protrude beyond the window of. each plate tosuch an extent only as will permit it to be readily revolved for adjustment purposes, without being able to work free of the carriage, even should the shank 14: be entirely withdrawn from the latter. Secured between the plates and at a suitable distance above the upper surface of handle 1 is a longitudinally extending plate 24: against which the free end of a flat spring 25 (as indicated by the dotted line structure of Figure 2), this spring being fastened to the handle at a point slightly remote from the rear ot the carriage. The main purpose or this spring is to tensionably exert pressure against the plate,

24 for the purpose of normally tending to move the carriage forwardly about its piyot 26. To serve as a c'ounterant to the sprmg 25 a second spring 27 is pivoted to the under side of the handle, as at 28 with its free end passing inwardly of but in engagement with the bridge 22 of the handle straddling extensions carried by the carriage; this spring 27 being tensioned to exert pressure outwardly upon the bridge 22 and in a measure counteracting the upward pull of spring 25 so that, as a result, the carriage is normally maintained in a balanced position until, rocked up'onits pivot in a clockwise direction by the application of some external force. In which event it is obvious that the position of the shank 14 will be inclined to the axis of the tool and the aw '12 moved I away from the stationary or rigid jaws so as to increase the distance between the respective tooth bearing portions. By reason of such pivotal movement of the carriage it is therefore possible to accommodate pipes ot certain sizes between the jaws of the wrench without the necessity of at all times adjusting the movable jaw through the medium of the nut 20. The advantages of this will oi course be greater or less, according tothe size of the particular object to be gripped by the jaws and the extent to whichthe movable jaw may be adjusted forwardly ot the rigid jaw, at the particular t me the occasion arises for the use of the wrench.

The upper portions 7 of the llgld jaw, aside from providing guide ways between which the threaded shank 14 is movable, also provides means whereby pipes of large sizlics may be substantlally embraced by the gripping portions of the wrench so that upon turning the wrench, the gripping pressure of the respective jaws will not be exerted upon particular points only of the pipe but, on the other hand will be distributed more evenly over a larger area of the pipe section actually embraced by the jaws, permitting the pipes to be turned more easily and without any distortion or injury to the pipe. llt i to be remembered that the movable jaw 12 would ordinarily be adjusted tiorwardly of the rigid jaws 4i and 5, for a considerable the teeth 10 ot' the stationary jaw.

Later/e4.

respectively embracing the pipe so that it is firmly gripped at three points, at which points the pressure is approximately equally exerted when the handle 1 is movedto turn the wrench.

In operation, the wrench may be used in the manner and for the purposes for which similar wrenches of this character are adapted. Pipes, nuts or other 'objectsmay be inserted between the movable and stationary jaws, to be subsequently clamped firmly by the proper adjustment-of the knurled nut 20. In applying the improved wrench to a pipe or other object which is to be turned,

the outer jaw 12 is adjusted merely by re-v volving the nut 20 upon the threaded shank It, causing the shank to move forwardly through the carriage 16 so that as it rides over the upper end ofthe head 2 which serves as a bearing for the shank, it carries the jaw 12 away from the tooth bearing portion ot' the rigid jaws. When the proper adjustment has been made, the wrench inay be applied so that the pipe is'gripped between the separated jaws and in this connection attention is directed to the fact that the upper portion of' the pipe, particularly it it is a large sized one, rests against the under threaded surface of the overhanging shank portion 141 Atthe same time, the

pipe is gripped about one side bythe teeth 13 of the inner curved face of the jaw 12 and on thcmther side by the teeth of the curved portion and the other side gripped by Upon adjusting the nut 20 so that the jaws 20 are drawn together to more tightly gripthe pipe, it is obvious that pressure is exerted over an extensive area of the circumference of the pipe and consequently upon moving the wrench handle up or down for turning purposes the oppositely directed teeth of the wrench will materially assist in causing the pipes to turn easily with the wrench jaws. With this improved wrench it is unnecessary to always adjust the outer jaw 12 by means of the nut 20 for placing the wrench over a pipe, since by means of the pivotal support, the carriage 16 can be rocked in either direction for swinging the jaw 12 into or away from the stationary jaw, from which it is apparent that when a pipe is of slightly larger a diameter than the space between the lower ends of the outer and inner jaw memhers, pressure applied to the end of the shank 14 will depress the carriage downwardly and swing the jaw 12 outwardly to enlarge the opening and permit the pipe to pass therein, subsequent to which release of pressure .upon the spring 5, will enable spring 5 to return the carriage to its normal position, forcing jaw 12 inwardly against the pipe. At the point where the strain upon the handle is ordinarily the greatest, it is to be noted that in the present invention, cushioning means are provided for taking up the shock incident to the use of a device of this character. The springs 25 and 27 not only serve to resiliently support the carriage 16 but also act as buffers or shock absorbers for relieving the handle of any direct shock or strain. Attention is called to the fact that during the reciprocatory movement of handle 1, the

spring on each side acts as a cushion to pre-. vent the snapping ofl" ofthe handle by anyv such jerk or jar. Nuts, bolts, and small sized objects of any degree may be firmly clamped between the jaws of this wrench since it is of course possible to adjust the outer jaw 12 into close proximity and even contact with the tooth bearing portion of the head 2, consequently the opening between the jaws may be contracted to any desired degree as illustrated to advantage in Figure 2 of the d 'awing.

From the foregoing description it should be clear that the present invention contemplates a device not only capable of and adapted to the uses to which structures of this character ,are ordinarily applied but one which embodies improved features of construction which enlarges its tield of usefulness and which renders it more eflicient and satisfactory tool. It is to be understood of course. that minor changes in the construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to as fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims appended.

\Vhat lclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is?- l. A wrench. con'iprising a handlehaving an enlarged head at one end, the outer end of which is curved. an outer curved jaw adapted to fit snugly against the curved outer end of the enlarged head, a shank integral with said outer curved jaw and ing its outer surface provided with a reversely curved jaw portion, one ofwhich portions is in alignment with the curved outer end of the said head.

2. A wrench. including a handle having one end enlarged to provide ajaw support, the lower front surface of said jaw support being provided with teeth, a pair of'curveil jaws rigidly aflixcd to said support on oppo site sides. each of said jaws tapering to provide a nose. portion projecting in a curve beyond the head, an adjustable member comprising a curved jaw having its shank portion inserted between the nose portions of the curved or rigid jaws, a carriage slipported upon said handle for engaging the end of the said shank and means earned by I said carriage iodad ustmg said movable aw outwardly from the rigid jaws, whereby the space between the adjustable and rigid jaws may be bridged by a portion of the shank to provide an additional gripping surface.

3. pipe wrench comprising a headed handle having a fixed jaw at the head end disposed at right angles thereto. a nn' -vable jaw opposed to the fixed jaw having a shank extending parallel with the handle and rearwardly of the fixed jaw. the said fixed jaw having a clearance space provided therethrough to permit passage of the said shank and the head of the handle providing a bearing for the shank, said fixed and IIIOV able jaws having inner opposing portions of the jaw spaces concaved to provide gripping surfaces for engaging a pipe over a suitable area of the circumference. 'and means on the said handle for adjusting the movable jaw, said means including a frame pivoted to the handle and supportably engaging the shank of the movable jaw.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RUFUS I HOOP. Witnesses:

Mamas W. L. Boer, GER'IIE C. B007. 

